Tommy Thompson, a former Governor of the State of Wisconsin.
Books by Tommy Thompson:
Content referencing Tommy Thompson - Page 7
Why Was Sue Black Fired?
The development is a shocker as Abele was a friend and supporter of the highly regarded parks director.
Aug 16th, 2012 by Bruce Murphy
Fitzgerald’s Strangely Sleepy Campaign
Is Jeff Fitzgerald running for U.S. Senator or top lobbyist?
Aug 2nd, 2012 by Bruce Murphy
The Chicago Challenge
Economic cooperation with our massive neighbor could help Milwaukee. But Gov.Scott Walker stands in the way.
Jul 18th, 2012 by Bruce Murphy
Tommy the Taxer
The old tax-and-spend governor Republican may be far too moderate to win the Republican Senate primary.
Jul 16th, 2012 by Bruce Murphy
Why Walker Won’t Compromise
He now says he will bring us together. But don’t bet on it.
Jun 14th, 2012 by Bruce Murphy
Why Walker Won
Democrats blame money, but might examine their muddled message.
Jun 8th, 2012 by Bruce Murphy
Did the State Screw Talgo?
The train company's stunned CEO blasts Wisconsin for breaching its contract “like a Third World country.”
May 31st, 2012 by Bruce Murphy
Bruce Murphy signs on as Editor
Urban Milwaukee is happy to announce that Bruce Murphy has come aboard as our new editor and columnist, where he will revive his well-known column Murphy’s Law. Among the state’s best-known journalists, Murphy is most celebrated for his stories exposing the Milwaukee County pension scandal, which led to the resignation of County Executive F. Thomas Ament and the recall of seven county supervisors. No scandal in Milwaukee history resulted in more politicians being thrown out of office.
May 9th, 2012 by Urban Milwaukee
John Norquist Milwaukee Tour – Congress for the New Urbanism
One day before the start of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) 19th annual conference in Madison, former Mayor and current CNU President & CEO John Norquist returned to Milwaukee with a number of his former deputies to offer a tour of many of the urban projects started during his tenure as mayor.
Jun 1st, 2011 by Jeramey Jannene
History and Walker’s Jobs Claim
On election night, Governor-elect Scott Walker promised Wisconsin 250,000 news jobs by the end of 2014. Critics claim the goal is unrealistic and his jobs plan as lacking and juvenile.
Nov 11th, 2010 by John Kovari
Milwaukee Streetcar Round-Up
The Milwaukee circulator streetcar is moving forward, but there is still confusion in the mind of many. We've covered the issue in the past, but this article attempts to bring everything together in one place, the history, the frequently asked questions, and the proposed route.
Apr 19th, 2009 by Jeramey Jannene
Broydrick, Lobbyist for Disaster Preparedness Group Faces Own Disaster in D.C. Whore Scandal
Bill Broydrick linked to the “Washington Madam.”
Jul 19th, 2007 by Michael Horne
Tommy Thompson to Graze Through Iowa
Thompson will graze his way through the cornbelt, feasting at cookouts, pizza parties, restaurants, and even participating in an ice cream social, that pinnacle of Iowan hospitality.
Jul 6th, 2007 by Michael Horne
State Elections Board Responds to Complaint Against Walker
John Weishan and Gerry Broderick filed an official complaint today with the Wisconsin State Elections Board against Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.
May 9th, 2005 by Michael Horne
When the Wealthy Serve
A Look at the Commerce Secretary’s Statement of Economic Interests
Feb 25th, 2005 by Michael Horne
Riemer: “Ready to Run”
This terse note from Riemer almost sounds like a Bill Christofferson soundbite, which means it's a good one.
Feb 14th, 2005 by Michael Horne
More OIC – George Connections
Although the Gary George – OIC-GM connections are well documented, particularly those that have led to the convictions of George, Mark Sostarich and Carl Gee, recently-released audit information and other source documents indicate that perhaps the OIC-George connection needs to be further investigated. Nobody is accusing anybody of wrongdoing, but perhaps investigators should dig a little deeper into the dealings of George and those connected with him, if only to remove any hint of suspicion from settling on the mantle of the innocent. Take, for instance, the relationship between Todd Robert Murphy, OIC-GM and Gary George. Murphy was recently relieved of his Public Relations contract with OIC-GM, and was replaced by Martin Schreiber and Associates. The recent audit of the OIC-GM accounts indicated that payments made by OIC-GM to TRM Marketing Consultants, Murphy’s firm, were “unallowable expenses,” according to Paul Steiber of the State of Wisconsin. His review included two months during which Murphy received $4,000 per month from OIC-GM. Was this a “cushy consulting job,” as Leon Todd has suggested? Todd said the Murphy-planted cover story about OIC-GM that appeared in the Shepherd Express (and, interestingly, in newspapers in the African-American community) was “not enough” to save him his job. According to the audit, OIC-GM was not authorized to hire a public relations consultant with W2 funds. The Ethics Board did not have a complete accounting of the amount of money Murphy’s firm was paid over the years. The board was investigating “direct” payments, and Murphy’s were considered “indirect.” According to John Becker of the Ethics Board, the payments to Todd Robert Murphy’s firm “were not something we focused on.” Nor has the board “seen any checks,” from OIC-GM to Murphy, he said. One wonders if the State of Wisconsin Ethics Board should have done a better job reviewing its own documents, for the Statements of Economic Interests filed by George for the years 1999-2001 show that George received more than $1,000 per year from Murphy’s firm. It would be interesting to know how much exactly per year Murphy sent to George, and what he got in exchange. George also reported receiving funds from Petrie and Stocking, the firm that employed Mark Sostarich, who gave George kickbacks from OIC funds. George also received money from Coleman & Williams, Ltd., an accounting firm. Coleman & Williams also received money from OIC – to conduct an audit of the OIC books. Isn’t it odd that an accounting firm that received money from OIC-GM would also, coincidentally, be sending more than $1,000 per year to George, who was systematically swindling OIC-GM out of money, with the connivance of Carl Gee, the group’s director, and Mark Sostarich, the Petrie and Stocking lawyer? Bill Coleman, of the accounting firm, said the relationship was quite innocent, and that he had hired Gary George to do unspecified legal work for his firm. Since many aspects of attorney-client relationships are privileged, we’ll have to take his word for it. Still, workers at the Ethics Board, the United […]
Nov 15th, 2004 by Michael Horne
Plale Recall Drive Begins
Can a group of south side political activists pull themselves together enough to acquire 13,212 signatures to force a recall election against Sen. Jeff Plale? Rep. Jon Richards said he doubts it. “This thing is going nowhere,” says Rep. Josh Zepnick. “These people are so lazy! They’ve taken out a newspaper ad asking people to come by and sign a recall petition. Who is going to do that?” True enough. To win an election, you’ve got to knock on doors, post signs in windows and do all kinds of grass-rooted activities. There is scant evidence of this in the Plale recall attempt, and absolutely no evidence of it in the northern fringes of Plale’s district, including Brady Street and the East Side. That hasn’t stopped Plale from printing up thousands of football schedules that he is handing out at every turn. The South Milwaukeean made the journey to St. Rita’s Church last week to attend the Brady Street Association monthly meeting where he was asked about the recall. “They’ve got until September 7th to get the signatures to recall me,” Plale told the audience. When told there seemed to be no effort on the East Side to circulate petitions, Plale said, “well, these people wouldn’t know how to find Brady Street.” Plale was also in the Brady Street area for what the neighborhood hopes is an annual Artisinal Food Festival. The gig was held Sunday, July 25th, and Plale was there along with his schedules. The recall effort against him stemmed from his crucial vote to uphold Governor Doyle’s veto of a republican-sponsored measure to limit property tax increases. Plale says the upcoming plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment known as the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, (TABOR) is similarly flawed, and a potential recipe for disaster. He cites Colorado, a state that has enacted similar provisions into its laws and is now in the midst of its worst fiscal crisis ever. Amendment on the Run The legislature republicans spent the last unedifying session promoting the agenda of Gays, Guns and Gambling. The Madison gang came up with loads of goofy legislation, none of which could sustain a veto by the governor. Leave it to this group to be able to reconvene and pass a constitutional amendment, no less, in just one week. This was the decision of Sen. Mary Panzer, the republican leader who had earlier been criticized for not rushing a Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights law through the Solomonic deliberations of the nation’s most august lawmakers. But, as soon as she faced a primary challenge from Rep.Glenn Grothman, an ambitious fellow republican who covets her senate seat, Panzer decided to schedule a vote for this week. Then, the legislature can go home and come back next year to vote again. Then, finally, the matter will be put to public vote in a referendum, if it is still alive. But, if the legislature does not act by August 5th, the whole procedure would have to be repeated in yet one […]
Jul 26th, 2004 by Michael Horne
Shepherd Figure to Run Madison Paper
Capital Papers Puts up the Capital
Jul 12th, 2004 by Michael Horne
Selig Take A Hit
Washington Post Trashes Commissioner and Journal Communications. Plus: The Mea Culpa of Charles J. Sykes and Thompson’s Boycott of Miller Park.
Jun 28th, 2004 by Michael Horne
Lame Duck Ruffles Feathers
Breier stuck on thorny hotel plan.
Mar 22nd, 2004 by Michael Horne
No Challenge to Hill Papers
But Halbrooks says Election Commission’s Extended Hours Helped Opponent
Jan 19th, 2004 by Michael Horne
Karen Ordinans’ Role in Shaping the Pension Plan
One of the remarkable stories in local government is the continuing survival of County Board chair Karen Ordinans.
Apr 21st, 2002 by Bruce Murphy
Has the Teacher’s Union Taken Over the GOP?
It was not long ago that the state teacher's union was the designated villain for Republicans.
Mar 19th, 2002 by Bruce Murphy
Why Gov. McCallum’s Spending Priorities Were Wrong
As the legislature wrestles with the state budget deficit, there has been talk of cutting every level of government except the schools.
Mar 14th, 2002 by Bruce Murphy
How Scott McCallum Plans to Raise Your Taxes
Sometime in the coming week, Gov. Scott McCallum will be meeting secretly with lobbyists in Minocqua, of all places, to discuss a plan to cut school spending and force property tax increases as a way to balance the state budget.
Nov 24th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Could The Brewers Benefit If Minnesota Loses Its Team?
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has scoffed at complaints from Twin Cities newspapers that eliminating a baseball team there would benefit the Milwaukee Brewers.
Nov 19th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
How Mayor Norquist’s Salary Cut Lowers Property Taxes
John Norquist styles himself as a budget cutter, but few are aware of how personally he has taken that mission.
Oct 19th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Could Ed Thompson Get Elected Governor?
It's a wacky idea, but Ed Thompson may turn out to be a real spoiler in the race for governor.
Oct 15th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Is Ald. Herron Leaving Town?
City Hall has been rife with rumors that Ald. Terrance Herron is leaving Milwaukee.
Oct 2nd, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Scott Jensen’s Big Shakedown
Rep. Jon Richards was feeling a little lonely.
Sep 25th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Superintendent Burmaster Slaps The Governor Around
My, how times have changed.
Sep 24th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Will Taxes Be the Key Issue in the Governor’s Race?
In the wake of the tragedy in New York and Washington, the Democratic candidates for governor have slowed down their campaigning, but they have been strategizing as to what the major issues will be in next fall's election.
Sep 21st, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Why The Mayor is Not Dead
Back in the early 1980s, Milwaukee Magazine ran a scathing caricature of Mayor Henry Maier with the title "What Does This Man Do All Day?"
Aug 1st, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Why the State Doesn’t Hate Tom Ament Any More
Time was when Milwaukee County was a favorite whipping boy of the state.
Jul 30th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Is Wisconsin Short-Changed By Its Top Foundation?
With the resignation of Michael Joyce, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation is looking for a new president.
Jul 12th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Can the New State Superintendent Succeed?
Herbert Grover is not impressed with the credentials of Elizabeth Burmaster, the new State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Jul 2nd, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
The Rise and Fall of Polly Williams
Time was when Rep. Annette Polly Williams (D-Milwaukee) was the star of the conservative talk circuit.
Jun 27th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
How Michael Joyce Sold Himself to George W. Bush
The way Michael Joyce recalls it; he was watching his old friend William Bennett, the former secretary of education, on the Evans and Novak TV show one fine day.
Jun 25th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Milwaukee Goes Crazy for Research Parks
Wisconsin is supposed to be suffering from a brain drain, and southeast Wisconsin is said to lack the kind of high technology industries you find in a research park.
Jun 19th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
The Raging Bull of MATC
For eight years, Milwaukee Area Technical College President John Birkholz has terrorized his staff and even the board members who hired him, while alienating members of the business community.
Jun 18th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
Personal Foul – Norquist Loses Points With the Business Community
The Greater Milwaukee Committee thinks it's found a way to get more revenue for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Jun 15th, 2001 by Bruce Murphy
